Greek and Roman Art and Mythology Overview

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on the key concepts covered in the lecture notes about Greek and Roman art, mythology, and epic poetry.

Kouros

A nude young male figure in Greek sculpture, often used as a dedication or grave marker.

Kore

A clothed young female figure in Greek sculpture, often used in temples as a dedication or grave marker.

Xenia

The Greek concept of hospitality, involving the relationship and responsibilities between host and guest.

Cella

The inner room of a temple that housed the statue of the god.

Metopes

Panels between the triglyphs of a Doric frieze that often contained carved reliefs of mythological scenes.

Frieze

A continuous horizontal band of sculpted or painted decoration, often found in classical architecture.

Epic Poetry

Long narrative poems in dactylic hexameter, exemplified by works such as Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.

Pithos

A large storage jar used in ancient Greece for storing goods such as grain or oil.

Amphora

A type of storage jar typically used for transporting oil or wine in ancient Greece.

Palace of Knossos

The largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete, linked to the Minoan civilization.

Sybil

A prophetic female figure in ancient mythology, often depicted as a priestess or oracle.

Medea

A figure in Greek mythology known for her role in the story of Jason and the Argonauts, famous for her acts of revenge.

Deus ex machina

A plot device whereby a seemingly unsolvable problem is suddenly resolved by an unexpected intervention.

Hellespont

The narrow strait separating Europe and Asia, the legendary place where Helle fell into the sea.

Aeschylus

An ancient Greek playwright, known as the father of tragedy, who wrote the Oresteia trilogy that explores themes of justice and revenge.

Oresteia

A trilogy of tragedies by Aeschylus that follows the cycle of revenge and justice in the House of Atreus.

Pietas

The Roman virtue of duty to gods, country, and family, often depicted in Aeneas’ actions in the Aeneid.

Syncretism

The blending or merging of different religious beliefs and practices, particularly seen in the context of Greek and Roman mythology.

Transformation

A central theme in Ovid's Metamorphoses, relating to characters changing forms often due to divine influence.

Euripides' Medea

A play that portrays the complex character of Medea, emphasizing themes of revenge and the status of women.

Furies

In Greek mythology, the vengeful spirits of justice and retribution.

Mythopoeia

The creation of myths or the act of myth-making, often used in literature to build a fictional universe.